Bohemians claimed their first ever victory in Tallaght Stadium with a goal just before the break by Kevin Devanney. Rovers hit the crossbar twice in the game but overall it was a disjointed performance by the Hoops.

After a day of rain the surface in Tallaght was slippy but the visitors settled better and an early shot from Ward went just wide.

In the 8th minute a cross from Buckley found Devanney but he headed wide. Shane O'Connor sent in a fine low cross into the area on 15 minutes but the Bohs defence cleared the danger.

On 19 minutes a cross from Devanney for Bohs saw Moore almost get a touch in front of goal and Jansson had to stretch out his leg to clear the danger. On 20 minutes Billy Dennehy got into space on the left but his cross couldn't find a Hoops player in the box. Gary Twigg then had a shot blocked in the box following McCabes pass.

Rovers eventually began to press the Bohs defence and on 29 minutes Rice found McCabe on the right and he in turn played the ball out to Sullivan in space and his low driven shot on goal took a deflection but 'keeper Murray did enough to push the ball to safety. Gary Twigg then turned provider for Ronan Finn on 31 minutes but his shot inside the box was blocked. A minute later Billy Dennehy got a shot on target but Murray easily saved. O'Connor then found Twigg in the box and the Scotsman's first time shot narrowly missed the target.

Rovers needed to score during this period and they came close on 36 minutes when McCabe released Stewart into the box on the right and his shot beat Murray but cannoned off the crossbar. Ronan Finn then saw two shots in quick succession blocked by defender Feely.

[GOAL 0:1 - 44th min.] Against the run of play Bohs took the lead when a speculative free-kick from 35 yards out by Keith Ward saw the ball squirm out of Oscar Jansson's grasp and Devanney pounced first to shoot home from close range.

The game was only 2 minutes into the second-half when a stray Ken Oman pass saw Ward run on goal but luckily his shot went past Jansson's left-hand post. In the 50th minute an O'Connor cross into the box was flicked on by Stewart to Twigg and his hooked shot went over Murray but hit the crossbar. A minute later at the other end Oman and Hawkins combined to deny Devanney a shot on goal.

Ken Oman crossed low straight at Murray in the 56th minute following McCabe's pass. On the hour mark a McCabe free-kick was headed on by Hawkins but Dennehy shot wide at the back post. Stephen Rice was booked for what looked like a good tackle as Rovers frustration grew and the Hoops began to launch high balls towards Twigg and sub Kilduff but to little effect.

Rovers did apply some pressure in the Bohs area on 72 minutes but Finns shot was blocked and Twigg mis-hit his effort before Kilduff headed Stewarts cross wide. On 79 minutes a Finn shot was deflected for a corner and 'keeper Murray punched the resultant kick clear.

The Gypsies almost stole a second goal when sub Corr got behind the Hoops defence on 84 minutes but Jansson advanced to save his low shot. Two minutes later a superb shot from 25 yards out by Finn saw Murray dive full length to push away.

The last chance for Rovers came in the 87th minute when Dennehy's free-kick from distance found Oman at the back post but he couldn't get proper contact on the ball and the 'keeper saved his effort.